Hey lovelies, still no new laptop- waiting for them to sort out refunds and such is annoying but such is life. Anyway enjoy this chaper and uh- brace yourself for the fun to come in the next chapter. I want to know what you guys think I'm gonna pull- I'll give you a hint. We see one character Percy's already met and one who she hasn't.
Percy was painfully grateful for how well- objectively speaking, Fredrick took her story. She could see the concern written in his features, the way his lips pinched down into a from, his eyes tight. When they asked to borrow a car he offered to drive them. Though they managed to talk him out of it.
He had to concede the point that his presence would distract them when the time came to fight. He was a mortal, they were the demigods. They were the ones born with innate battle instincts. And he was at least a little reassured when Zoe promised that she was able to safely drive.
Percy decided against mentioning that the last time she'd been behind the wheel they'd been in a wreck.
He offered to let them stay until it was time to leave- given how early it was there was no point in heading to Mount Tam right away. They'd have to wait there for hours. That was reassuring at least- and the group were all grateful when Helen brought them a plate piled high with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
When Percy asked Fredrick about Nectar and Ambrosia, while she'd been eating a sandwich, he told her that he personally didn't have any but that Annabeth probably had some tucked away in her room.
So Percy slipped away from the others while they were discussing the route to Mount Tam, making her way into the bedroom she'd seen across the hall.
She swallowed hard as she slipped inside- it was so Annabeth.
The walls were painted a light shade of blue, there were posters of buildings Percy knew she dreamed of visiting if she ever got the chance, she had a large bed and a pull out sofa- still pulled out.
The room was messier than she was sure it usually was. Annabeth and Piper would have been in a rush when they'd left. It made Percy's heart ache. Their clothes were scattered everywhere.
Percy moved over to the bed, sitting on the edge of it slowly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, forcing back the sudden tears.
The two girls she was in love with had been kidnapped and all they could do right now was wait. She felt useless and she hated it. And gods, gods but Carter and Sadie had been taken too. Her brother and sister, her home had been taken from her. She had to try and get them back she had to.
Maybe if she'd have been with them when they'd been ambushed… but then Bianca and Thalia would have died, and Grover and Zoe probably would have too.
And logically she knew that as horrible as Alina having her family and her girls captive was, it was better than what would have happened otherwise. But still. It was painful to dwell on. Especially sat in Annabeth's bedroom, surrounded by reminders of the two demigods.
After a little while she heard the door opening and she lifted her head, gaze focusing on Helen Chase. The woman gave her a soft look. "Hey sweetheart. I saw that the others were still in there with Fredrick but I noticed you were gone. I thought you might be in here. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Percy managed a strained smile. "Just… just tired."
"I heard what you said happened to Annabeth and Piper." Helen gave Percy a look. "I doubt it's just tiredness that has you looking like that."
"Okay. Okay I'm worried." Percy let out a breath, shaking her head. "I- and guilty-"
"I'm sure that if you could have been there for them you would have been."
"I made a choice and because of that choice they didn't have me there-"
"Percy I have heard the way those two girls talk about you." Helen shut the door behind her and moved over to the bed, sitting next to her. "There is no way that you wouldn't have been there to protect them if you could have. Not that they need protecting mind." Helen chuckled, "The other day I took them Christmas shopping. Some idiot tried to snatch my bag. It was entertaining watching two of them take him down."
"They are capable." Percy ducked her head, a small laugh slipping past her lips as Helen gently grabbed her hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
"Annabeth and Piper are going to be fine Percy. I have no doubt that you'll be able to rescue them and take them home with you."
"I hope you're right." Percy let out a breath, "I just- at least Alina does need Carter and Sadie. Ananbeth and Piper- if they piss her off-"
"Annabeth and Piper are smart girls. They won't do anything too stupid I'm sure." Helen told her before pushing herself to her feet once more. "Now." She moved over to the desk in the corner of the room, "I did hear you mentioning nectar and ambrosia. And I know Annabeth keeps some supplies in here." She slid the drawer open, "I'm not sure what they look like but.." she glanced over at Percy, "If you come and have a little look you can take what you need."
Percy was on her feet and across the room in a few steps, and her gaze focused on the contents of the drawer.
A laptop, the copies of the Blake Adventures books that Percy had translated for her, and- Percy felt herself smiling.
Just as she'd hoped. Annabeth was always so prepared. She pulled the plastic baggie filled with squares of ambrosia out of the drawer, shooting Helen a grateful smile. "Thank you Mrs Chase."
"Of course sweetheart. Just- do me a favor once you've rescued Annabeth."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Stop being silly." Helen gave a wry smile, "I saw that look in your eyes. You're not good at hiding your feelings for my step daughter or her girlfriend." And Percy felt her face flushing a bright shade of red as Helen kept speaking "And I heard those girls talking about you. I don't know what went wrong but you three fit together. I knew it the first time I saw you three. The way you were so protective of Annabeth. You glared at me so hard. And I don't blame you. I wasn't good to her at first. I was… I didn't understand what it meant. To have a demigod step daughter. I won't make excuses. All I can do is try to do better. But you and Piper were like guards. If she got upset you reacted automatically. You shielded her and protected her. And I saw it in the way she looked at you. Annabeth- Annabeth isn't used to stability. Which again, is mine and Fredrick's faults. We weren't there in the way we should have been. But you girls? You are her stability. So I want the three of you to be happy."
"We've already stopped being silly." Percy admitted- and suddenly her eyes were burning. "We've just got together and then… then- then I chose to go after Bianca and Thalia and I left them."
"I am sure they understand." Helen laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "And soon enough you three will be back together. Where you all belong." There was the sound of a crash and Helen sighed, "Now I need to go deal with my sons." She pressed a gentle kiss to Percy's forehead. "You stop feeling guilty and worrying. From what Annabeth told the boys you could take on whole armies by yourself. I wouldn't trust anyone else rescuing her more than I do you."
"I-" Percy hesitated before twisting, hugging the other woman tightly, and Helen sighed softly and hugged her back before pulling away when there was a yelp and Helen pulled away, a wry smile on her lips.
"I need to deal with my boys sweetheart. You look after yourself." And then she was gone and Percy let out a slow breath, staring after her before shaking herself.
She needed to focus. She'd had her ten minutes of sadness, now she needed to get on with things. Starting with taking some ambrosia to deal with the persistent ache in her chest from what she was vaguely aware was probably broken ribs.
She quickly opened the little bag, pulling out a square and popping it into her mouth- and oh but she really did love the taste, warm and comforting and it eased that ache, eased all of her aches and pains and tiredness.
Once the ambrosia had worked it's magic Percy took the chance to get changed, pulling on a pair of Piper's jeans- ripped and frayed and familiar, along with one of her tees, before pulling on Annabeth's favorite hoodie, which she found on her bed. And she wasn't even remotely ashamed of the fact that it had an Ankh on the front and 'The Blake Adventures' printed across the back. The clothes were all slightly big on her but that suited Percy just fine. They were a reminder of what she was fighting for.
She took a deep breath once she was changed, slipping out of Annabeth's room and firmly shutting the door behind her, padding her way back to Fredrick's office and letting herself in, a smile forming on her lips at the sight of Zoe and Bianca giving him the benefit of their historical knowledge- though Bianca's was limited thanks to her dip in the Lethe . Meanwhile Thalia and Grover were watching looking very bemused as Zoe discussed the lines of battle and the specifics of which planes were where for his maps and figures.
"Uh-" Percy felt kind of bad for interrupting honestly. But, well she did have a good reason after all. "I hate to interrupt but I found this." She held up the plastic baggy of ambrosia- and Thalia let out a whoop.
"Yes!"
"Oh thank the gods."
"I could do with some of that."
"You guys are lucky." Grover's voice was almost whiny, "I wish I could fix myself up using Ambrosia." But at least he didn't seem to be in terrible condition. The restful drive had him looking a bit better.
"Well." Percy opened the bag, letting the others take some ambrosia from it, "I for one am just glad that Annabeth is always prepared. Always keeping me safe and healthy even when she isn't here."
"She's good at that. Always was." Thalia's smile was sad. "Even when we were on the run." She popped her Ambrosia into her mouth. "So. What do we do while waiting."
"Well." Percy took a deep breath. "Triton told me he'd send word here if he managed to find the Ophiotaurus. So I think I want to take a trip to the beach. But I figure it might be a bit much if all of us go. You know, drawing too much attention."
"I can come with you." Bianca offered, "I got off pretty lightly during the crash thanks to Thalia's jacket." And was her face a little pink? Huh. That was strange.
"Hey, you were cold, you needed it more than I did." Thalia's voice was a little gruff and she shrugged, "And I'm not too bad. I feel like I should come with you. I mean, let's be honest it's better if there's not just one of us on the shore waiting for you."
"Good point."
"And no offence to you guys-" Thalia aimed that at Grover and Zoe, "But you both got more hurt in the crash- don't deny it Zoe, your arm was real badly bruised and Grover you still have a bit of a limp. You guys rest here."
"We won't be gone too long."
"The beach is within walking distance." Fredrick offered, "I could drive you kids there if you want."
"No need." Percy shook her head, "I think a peaceful walk could be good for me before we go into this. Besides." Percy slung her arms over Thalia and Bianca's shoulders, "We're the big three cousins. What could take us on?"
"Don't ask that." Thalia stamped on her foot, "You are such an idiot kelp head."
"That's like you're asking to be proven wrong." Bianca's laugh was exasperated, but it had worked, Zoe and Grover were rolling their eyes. And Percy knew that some of the tension that had been there was eased away.
Good. There would be time for tension when they went to Mount Tam.